Clearly in retrospect, Argentina correctly assessed the UK's naval/global power had lapsed to the point a decent shot at taking the Falklands had opened up. Specifically, that even the Arggies' ridiculously old, "Bananna Republic" air forces - if deployed correctly - could (at least sometimes) get through the RN's air defenses. Which they did: your Atlantic Conveyor episode being yet another (perhaps the best) example - again involving Exocet, as you note.

And - in contrast to the 50-150nm ranges for the SM-series SAMs we were initially discussing - RN successes at the Falklands, particularly Sea Wolf, were apparently all for Point Defense systems. But Point Defense, I'm sure all of today's commanders would still agree, is still 'way too close for comfort - the bottom line remaining just exactly as at the end of WWII: the only real air-defense is thorough Air Superiority, at considerable range. Which (until proven otherwise) still adds up to but one thing: aircraft - piloted by human beings, I would again add - and, in turn (particularly at so remote a location as the Falklands), to the absolute necessity for a serious Carrier Task Group - if not a Fleet Carrier(s), then at least a bunch of Escort Carriers. (Which only adds to your Sea Control/Recon and ASW capabilities, at the same time.)

Maybe the RN at the Falklands could (for the first time in history) have gotten around the above if they'd had not just a containership or two but every ship in the task force capable of operating its own Harrier. The fact they couldn't reflects a shortcoming IMHO remaining with the Harrier: that it still cannot be operated from exactly the same platforms as helicopters. (Which clearly was - or certainly should have been - the paramount design objective.)

In any case, I'll stand by the basic point that for air defense you still need manned aircraft...


Cheers,

- Matty